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The Green Barb

Green Barb is a small East Asian freshwater fish with narrow dark bars or spots along the body. Aquarium literature often connects it with the familiar golden domestic form.

Body Pattern

Several narrow bars cross the sides, sometimes broken into a series of spots. The lateral line is complete, and the last simple dorsal ray is serrated behind. Fin and scale features support identification when color differs among individuals or cultivated forms.

Name and Range

The inventory retains Puntius semifasciolatus, while current summaries use Barbodes semifasciolatus. Native records include southern China, Hainan and the Red River region. Aquarium transport has moved the fish widely, so occurrence elsewhere should not be presented as original native range.

Food and Size

Worms, crustaceans, insects, plant matter and detritus are recorded foods. The reference maximum is 7.6 centimeters total length. A small mass reported in a limited study does not establish the largest possible individual, so it is not used as a definitive maximum.

Keep the Generic Names Connected

Puntius and Barbodes can refer to the same named species in different publications. Preserve that connection when comparing historical and modern accounts.

All Lakes With Green Barb

Browse all lakes and reservoirs with confirmed Green Barb records in our database, listed alphabetically.

No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.

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